Blind Shells

[joevann]

Blind shells or blind-loaded, actually means it  has an inert filler.  Hence the black sand.  Occasionally these were emptied and filled with powder for the reasons stated above, and it was seldom effective.

[John D. Bartleson Jr.]

Note:
   to add to John's comment.  The British stamped their inert shells "BLIND".
John

[scottfromgeorgia]

I suspect this word is actually from the French, blindé, which means armoured.

[John D. Bartleson Jr.]

To All Interested;
   Below is a British 18pdr BLIND shell. 
Stamped as such.
Regards,
John

[John D. Bartleson Jr.]

to all,
   This was my reply from a European group of artillery collectors:
"the german term is "blind" to. As definition I would say: "inert filled or empty". But I also heard of german "blind" stamped examples which were unfuzed but they did contain explosive components"

Regards,
John

[scottfromgeorgia]

Both Germans and Brits tended to use French military words. Ergo, sabot.

[6lbgun]

     In the last century while in the service, blind was another word for a dud or something that failed to detonate.  You didn't hear it used very much, usually by the old demolition guys.  One of them told me that they called them blind because they didn't explode among the enemy so now they were blind to what side was near them and they could explode and kill the good along with the bad. He probably made it up, but it sounded pretty good to a young kid.  Don't know if the same meaning was used during the CW, "a shell that would not explode". 
Dan

[John D. Bartleson Jr.]

   Dear Dan,
You are correct, it also meant "dud".
Here is the latest quote from the Eruopena forum I belong to:
    "There are several countries in Europe which are using the term "BLIND" as a designator for INERT amunition.
 Those I do remember right now are:
 - Germany (pre 1945)
 - Switzerland
 - Denmark
 
So, all components (!) marked "BLIND" in Europe are meant to be inert if all is done by the book."
Regards,
John